Coin counting machine



Dec. 2G, 1938. P, Wm., www

COIN COUNTING MACHINE INVENTOR. Percy SNN' ffz BY 5M 5W H15 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1938.

P. c. SMITH 2,149,603

COIN CUNTING' MACHINE I Filed May 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Percy C. Smjf. A

BY f I 54 57 sa 6G62 5gg/m2, 5M 77 f 60 64 H/J ATTORNEY 55 sz 6! in a coin counting machine.

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to certain novel improvements in coin counting machines, and has for its principal object the provision of a device for the purpose which will be highly eifective in use and economical in manufacture.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,908,565 of the United States, granted to me on or about May 9, 1933, for an invention This present invention has for its advantage over that disclosed in the aforesaid patent the provision of more eiciently and effectively adapting the device for counting coins of different denominations as, for example, pennies and nickels, and assuring an accurate and reliable count.

A further object of this invention is a provision to facilitate manual access to the stock of uncounted coins should their movement become obstructed, particularly in the coin tube, during the counting operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coin pusher of a structure such as will prevent rupturing of its several parts during continued movement of the crank after each complete counting cycle.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision for facilitating access to the various parts of the device for adjustment or other purposes, also in the assembly of the parts of the device permitting mounting of the said parts for confinement in a box-like structure serving to house the same when not in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the front wall thereof moved into coin receiving position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a framentary detail view of the same taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the underside of the supporting table illustrated in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is sectional detail view of the invention taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

To accomplish the several objects of this invention, 1 provide as shown in Fig. l a box-like structure I@ having a top wall II provided with a coin aperture and which top wall is disposed a substantial distance below the top edges of the walls I4. The top wall serves as a receiving platform for the coins to be stacked and counted. At the front of the top wall II is a bar I3 serving to guide the coins to the aperture I2 when such coins are agitated by the hand of the operator as he pushes the coins toward such aperture.

Arranged upon the opposite side walls I4 are supports I5 upon which a plate I6 is slidably and removably received. This plate I6 is releasably latched upon the supports I5 by a latch arm II pivotally mounted to an adjacent wall, as at I8, and having its end I9 adapted for engagement in a keeper opening 20 formed in the plate I6.

Leading from the coin aperture I2 (Fig, 2) is a hopper 2I having a discharge opening 22 offset a predetermined distance from the aperture I2, and through which the coins from the aperture I2 are directed by an inclined neck 22 formed as a, part of the hopper. The arrangement is such that as the coins are directed from the aperture I2 to a position for projection by gravity through the discharge opening 22, such coins sliding down the neck will upon passing through the discharge opening 22 position themselves in superimposed position within the coin stacker 23 now to be described.

The coin stacker 23 is illustrated in the form of a perforated tube 23', the perforations permitting the operator to view the interior thereof. This stacker has its upper end positioned in communication with the discharge opening 22, and is adapted to be insertable therein when elevated in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

A resilient supporting yoke 24 is provided for the stacker 23, this yoke being in the form of an elongated U-shaped wire or the like fixed at its free ends |00 (Fig. 4) on the mounting plate by screw and block means IUI, the main bight portion of the yoke being offset to raise it above the base plate and 'extending out above the counting arm and ejector mechanism. The tube 23 rests against two spaced tubular uprights |03 (Figs. 3 and 4) so as to be slidable against the same in a vertical direction and is held slidably against the same by means of a crossbar 26 soldered or otherwise aflixed at its midportion tangently to the tube 23 and extending across the far sides of the uprights |03, the crossbar 26 being provided with holes near its opposite `ends through which the side or arm portions of the yoke 24 extend. Thus, the crossbar 26 reciprocates vertically with the spring yoke, and the crossbar being attached to the tube 23 consequently reciprocates the tube against the tubular uprights |03. This resilient tube mounting is relatively sensitive so that the movement of coins into the tube produces a joggling motion of the latter to assure at all times a proper settling or stacking of the coins.

Mounted upon the top of plate I6 through the medium of a stud 21 for oscillatory movement (as seen in Fig. 4) is an ejector 28 yhaving an arcuate end portion 29 disposed for movement beneath and transversely of the tube 23'. The opposite end portion 30 of the ejector carries a stud pin 3| disposed for engagement with a U- shaped end portion 32 of a drive rod 33 having its opposite end portion 34 connected, as at 35, to the pin 36 of a crank 31, including a handle 38. The crank 31 is rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing 39 carried by the plate I 6.

The ejector is normally moved in a direction from coin ejecting position by means of a retraction spring 40.

By manually rotating the crank 31 through the medium of the handle 38, the U-shaped end portion 32 of the drive rod 33 will be brought to bear against the stud pin 3|, which action will pivot the ejector 28 against the action of the spring 4D in a direction to bring the end portion 29 in contact with the lowermost of the coins and eject the same therefrom for movement through a guideway to be presently described.

Should the ejector end 29 become jammed beneath the tube under the stack of coins, in its advanced or ejecting position (as in dotted lines Fig. 4) the stud pin 3| being disposed in the U-shaped end of the connecting rod will allow the crank arm 31 to make its complete movement without effecting movement of the ejector 28 and Without subjecting the driving mechanism to any stress which otherwise would cause a rupture or distortion of the ejector operating parts.

Therefore, when the ejector arm becomes locked after a determined number of coins have been ejected, continued rotation of crank arm 31-38 will be harmless and arm 33 will merely be reciprocated through idle strokes.

The guideway includes a gauge plate 4| (Figs. 1 and 4) having at an edge portion 42 a depending lip 43 disposed over a rib 44. The opposite end of the plate 4| is supported by the plate |6 by resilient linger 45. Opposite the plate 4| and movable into the path of the ejected coins is the end 46 of a counting arm 41 pivotally supported by the plate |53, as at 48, and normally having its end 46 held in the path of the coins by a spring 48.

Secured to the counter-arm 41 is an oscillating pin 49 adapted to engage the upturned ear 56 of an escapement arm 5|. pivotally supported on the top of the plate |6, as at 52.

The ends of the escapement arm are bent down through holes in the plate |6 and are adapted to alternately engage the teeth 53 of a counter disc 54 rotatably supported by and beneath the plate i6 by a stud shaft 55. Fixed to the hub 56 of the disc 54 is a pinion 51 engageable by a rack bar 5S provided by an arm 59 pivotally supported by and beneath the plate I6, as at 60, and controlled in its movement in one direction by a spring 58 having one end secured to the plate i6, as at I6', and the opposite end secured to the arm 58, as at 59'.

A spring setting bar is indicated at 6|. The bar 6| is connected for free rotation to the hub pin 62 supporting the hub 56. The end 63 of the bar 6| provides a finger portion 64 accessible through an opening 64 formed in a wall of the box-like structure IU. The arrangement is such that by pivoting the bar 6| (Fig. 5), by reason of the slot and pin connection 65 between this bar and the arm 59, the disc may be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to set the disc in a position to be rotated in a clockwise direction intermittently by the actuation of the escapement arm 5| until the counting operation has been completed.

Secured to the counter disc 54 is a pin 66 having its end portion 61 extending beyond the periphery of the disc 54, whereby at the end of the counting operation this pin will engage the depending arm 68 of a stop 69 pivotally supported on the opposite side of the plate I6 by a pivot 10. The stop 69 on the top of the plate is normally held from stopping position, relative to the ear 14 on ejector 28, by the action of a retraction spring 1|.

The arm 68 of this stop 69 extends through an elongated slot 12 formed in the plate |6, and the opposite end portion of the stop is provided with an upstanding nger 13 adapted, when the stop is moved into stopping position, to engage a lug 14 formed on the ejector 28 whereby to prevent the arcuate end portion 29 from being pivoted back from a position beneath the coins in the coin stacker 23. It is obvious that movement of the crank 31 under these conditions will not effect ejection of the coins from the ejector tube 23.

Pivotally mounted upon the plate I6, as at is a lever 15 having an upturned end 16 constituting a iinger gripping portion. The opposite end portion 11 of the lever 15 is angled through a slot 18 and is movable into the path of movement of the pin end portion 61.

Formed in the plate |6 is a slot 19, and depending through this slot 19 to the bottom side of the plate is a connecting stud 80 which connects to the lever 15 a link 8| also arranged on the bottom of the plate (Fig. 5). At the free end portion of this link 8| is an upstanding pin 82 projecting through a slot 83 formed in the plate |6. This pin 82 provides a rounded head 84, and this head 84 is adapted to engage a cam plate 85 disposed on the top side of the plate.

The arrangement is such that by pivoting the lever 15 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the end 11 thereof will move into a position in the path of movement of the pin 61, while at the same time the rounded end portion 84 of the pin 82 engages the cam gauge plate 85 and elevates the plate 4| to raise the edge portion 42 thereof in spaced relation with respect to the top surface of the plate I6, for reasons hereinafter set forth (see Figs. 4 and 5).

The front wall 86 of the housing provided by the box-like structure is hingedly and removably connected to the side Walls |4 of said housing. This is accomplished by providing adjacent the edge portion 88 of the wall 86 tubings 89, one of which is adapted to receive a xed pin S6, while the other is adapted to receive a removable pin 9| held normally in operative position by means of a spring 92. The arrangement is such that to remove the plate I6, the wall 86 is iirst removed, whereupon by releasing the latch arm l1 from latched position, the plate |6 and the parts supported thereby may be conveniently removed.

When this front wall 86 is in the position illustrated in Fig. l, it serves to support a coin wrapper 93. This is accomplished by providing a irusto-conical plug 94 adapted to receive the lower end portion of the wrapper 93. This plug 94 is pivotally secured upon the inner surface of the wall 8S by means of an arm 95 pivoted to the wall, as at 96. The upper end portion of the wrapper 93 is disposed between two spaced studs 91. The upper end portion of the wrapper 93 is disposed immediately adjacent the depending lip of the plate I6.

Before operating the machine, the lever 63 is always pushed (anticlockwise, Fig. to tension the spring 58 and thus condition the counting ratchet means for subsequent step by step counting operation, and it will be observed that the stop 69 is the starting point from which the disc moves at each presetting or tensioning.

The operation of the device for counting-small coins such as, for example, pennies, is as follows: The coins to be counted are disposed upon the top wall il of the box-like structure. The operator by agitating the coins attracts them to the coin aperture I2, through which aperture the coins drop onto the inclined neck 22 of the hopper Ztl where the coins gravitate to the discharge opening 22 for passage into the tube 23 in superimposed position. It may be observed here that the resilient mounting 24-25 for the tube 23, responsive to the movement of coins into the latter, provides an agitatng means further assuring proper alignment of coins in the stacker tube 23.

When counting the small coins such as pennies, the lever 15 is pivoted about its pivot 15 to dispose the angled end portion 11 out of the path of movement of the pin 61, and with the pin 82 disposed from engagement with the cam plate 85, thus permitting the gauge plate 4I to be disposed in its lowermost position.

The coins by the operation of the ejector 28 through manipulation of the crank 31 are moved from the tube 23 in a direction toward the depending lip 81 of the plate I6. During this operation the coins pass between the counter arm 41 and the edge portion 42 of the plate 4I, and as each coin passes this counter arm 41, it pivots the counter arm in a clockwise direction, causing the pivotal movement of the escapement arm 5l to permit intermittent rotation of the counter disc 54 (counterclockwise in Fig. 4, clockwise in Fig. 5) upon the passage of each coin. This operation continues until fifty pennies (for example, depending on the number of teeth on wheel 54) have passed the counter arm and the counter disc 55 moved intermittently fty times. At the end of the nftieth movement (in this example) the pin 51 will engage the depending end of the stop $9 for reasons hereinbefore set forth and at which time the pin 66--61 will be substantially 360 away from the reset position of Fig. 5 and in the normal or initial position.

As the coins are ejected from the plate I6, they fall in superimposed position in the wrapper 93, and when fifty pennies have been positioned in this wrapper 3, the same may be conveniently removed and the ends thereof turned over upon the coins in the usual manner.

When it is desired to count larger coins such as nickels, the lever 'l5 (Fig. 4) is pivoted in a clockwise direction about its pivot 15 prior to operating lever iii. This movement through the action of the pin B2 elevates the plate 4I and also disposes the angled end portion 11 of arm 15 in the path of the pin 61, thus permitting the counter disc 54 to rotate only a distance equal to twenty teeth away from its initial or starting position so that when the crank is turned thereafter, the disc 54 will travel a distance equal to twenty teeth or the passage of twenty coins before the pin 61 operates the stop 69, it being assumed that the wrapper in this instance is large enough to contain twenty nickels.

While `I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a movable counting member, and adjustable gauge means cooperable therewith and comprising a stationary gauge member positioned at a particular distance opposite said counting member, a movable gauge member arranged for movement into and out of position between said counting member and said stationary gauge member, and means for effecting movement of the movable gauge member as aforesaid.

2. In a device of the class described, a movable coin counting member and counting mechanism actuated thereby, said counting mechanism being arranged for adjustment to automatically lock said counting member against movement responsive to different predetermined numbers of counting movements of said counting member, manual means for adjusting the counting mechanism as aforesaid, and an adjustable gauge device for cooperation with said movable counting member and including stationary gauge means arranged opposite said movable counting member and movable gauge means arranged for adjusting movement in opposite directions in and out between said movable counting member and said stationary gauge means whereby to vary the distance between said last-mentioned member and means, said movable gauge means being arranged and constructed for adjusting movement under control of the aforesaid manual adjusting means of the counting mechanism responsive to adjusting operation of the latter.

3. In a coin counting machine, a support for a stack of coins, means including a reciprocable ejector to feed coins from said support across the latter along a single definite path, operating means for said ejector, stopping means engageable with the ejector after the same has fed a predetermined number of coins along said path for stopping the ejector in a particular position, said operating means including a revoluble crank and a U-shaped coupling link reciprccated by said crank and movable independently of said ejector by continued actuation of said operating means after said ejector has been stopped in said particular position, and coin counting means including a member for operating said stop when said ejector has fed a predetermined number of coins along said path.

4. A coin counting machine including a coin stacker, counting mechanism automatically opstacker having an open bottom, ejector means for ejecting coins from the bottom of said stacker, counting mechanism automatically operable to lock said ejecting means against effective movement after a predetermined number of coins have been ejected, said counting mechanism including a counting arm positioned for engagement by coins ejected from said stacker, and

adjustable gauge means positioned opposite said counting arm cooperable with the latter and including a stationary gauge member spaced at a determined distance from said counting arm and a movable gauge member arranged for movement into and out of position between said counting arm and said stationary gauge member and normally disposed between said counting arm and said stationary gauge member, together with control mechanism operable to move said movable gauge member and hold the same out of said last-mentioned normal disposition thereof.

5. A coin counting machine including a coin stacking tube, an ejector movable relative to the tube to feed coins one at a time from the bottom Lhereof, counting mechanism including a counting arm, a gauge member disposed opposite the cou ting arm and between which gauge member and the counting arm the coins ejected from the tube are adapted to pass, means including a member operable upon the gauge to elevate the coin engaging portion of the gauge from the path ci movement of the said coins, and a rib beneath the gauge adapted to engage adjacent edge of a coin when passed therealong when the said gauge member is in elevated position.

5. A coin counting machine comprising a coin stacking tube, an ejector movable relative to the tube to feed coins one at a time from the bottom thereof, counting mechanism including a counting arm, a gauge member xed at one end and Ying an opposite end disposed opposite the g arm and between which opposite end i Ue counting arm the coins are ejected from the tube, means including a cam member operable upon the gauge to elevate the opposite and coin engaging end portion of the gauge from the path of movement of the said coins, and means beneath the gauge adapted to engage adjacent edges of the coins when passed therealong when the said gauge member is in elevated position.

7. A coin counting machine including a coin tube, a mounting plate therebelow, a reciprocable ejector mounted on said plate for moving coins along a definite path from said tube, means for reciprocating said ejector including a manually operable crank, yieldable means normally urging said ejector away from the bottom of said tube, link means connecting Said crank and said ejector to move the latter toward said tube upon manipulation of said crank, counting means including a counting arm pivoted on said plate, gauge means disposed oppositely of an end portion or said counting arm, a counting ratchet wheel mounted below said plate, driving means for said ratchet wheel including an energy storing member and drive arm operable by the same and drivingly connected with said ratchet wheel, manually operable means for energizing said Vy storing member, escapement means for said ratchet wheel and operably connected with seid counter arm for effecting step by step movement oi said ratchet wheel by said energy storing when said counter arm is pivoted by ejecting movement of a coin between the said end portion thereof and said gauge means, together with stop means including a stop member engageable by a member on said ratchet wheel `for pivotation to engage and lock said ejecting member when said wheel has made a determined number of steps.

8. Coin counting mechanism including a coin receptacle, ejector mechanism operable to move coins from said receptacle along a determined path, automatic counting mechanism operable to lock said ejector against effective operation after a predetermined number of coins have been ejected, said automatic mechanism including a counting arm arranged for engagement by coins ejected along said path, adjustable gauge means positioned substantially opposite said counting arm adjoining said denite path so that coins must pass between the arm and the gauge means, adjustable control mechanism for determining the number of operations of said automatic mechanism before the same locks said ejector, said gauge means including a stationary gauge member positioned as aforesaid and a movable gauge member normally disposed between said stationary gauge member and said counting arm to decrease the distance between the former and the latter, said distance corresponding to the diameter of a given coin, said movable gauge member being movable out of said normal position to make the distance between said counting arm and Said stationary member an amount equivalent to the diameter' of a different coin, and means operable by said adjustable control mechanism for moving said movable gauge member out of its aforesaid normal position.

9. Coin counting mechanism including a coin receptacle, ejector mechanism for moving coins from said receptacle one at a time along a determined path, and automatic counting means including a ratchet disc, mechanism for rotating said disc including an energy storing device and means for moving said disc from an initial position to energize said storing device, escapement mechanism cooperable with said disc and arranged when operated to effect step by step movement of the disc by said storing device, a counting arm for operating said escapement mechanism and positioned for engagement by ejected coins moving along said denite path, an adjustable control including a member movable into and out of position for engagement by means on said ratchet disc to limit the movement of the latter away from said initial position when the same is moved responsive to energize.- tion of said storing device, together with adjustable gauge means including a stationary gauge plate positoned substantially opposite said counting arm for engagement by ejected coins of a determined diameter to cause the latter in their ejecting movement there-past to operate said counting arm, a movable gauge member having means normally positioning the same between said stationary gauge member and said counting member for engagement by ejected coins oi less than said certain diameter for the purpose of causing such coins to actuate said counting arm in the manner aforesaid, and mechanism operable by said adjustable control for moving said movable gauge plate out of effective position between said stationary gauge member and said counting arm.

10. A coin counting machine including a coin stacking device and a base plate therebelow, an ejector mounted on the base plate and operable to remove coins one at a time from the bottoni of said stacking device, counting mechanism on said plate and including a counting member past which coins are adapted to be moved by said ejector, a gauge in the form of a substantially elongated member secured at one end to said base plate to permit movement of the opposite end thereof away from a normal position on said base plate substantially opposite said counting member such that coins removed from said stacking device will be passed between said counting member and said opposite end of the gauge in said normal position, means slidably mounted on said base plate beneath said gauge and operable to move said opposite end of the gauge in a direction away from said base plate to dispose said opposite end portion out of engagement with coins removed from the stacking device as aforesaid, and a xed guide member on said plate below said opposite end of the gauge and adapted to provide a path of greater Width between the same and said counting member when said gauge member is moved in the manner 5 aforesaid.

PERCY C. SMITH. 

